Vehicle structure, especially tonneau bottom structure



T. ULRICH 2,370,211

VEHICLE STRUCTURE, ESPECIALLY TONNEAU BOTTOM STRUCTURE Feb. 27, 1945.

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fiied Aug. 2', 1940 INVENTOR. Theodore U Z n h/ ATTORNEY.

T. ULRICH Feb. 27, 1945.

VEHICLE STRUCTURE, ESPECIALLY TONNEAU BOTTOM STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fhebdore UZPZ'Ch ATTO RNEY T. ULRICH Feb. 27, 1945.

VEHICLE STRUCTURE, ESPECIALLY TONNEAU BOTTOM STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Theodore Z/Zrwh A BY W M7 ATTORNEY Feb. 27, 1945. Y u 2,370,211

VEHICLE STRUCTURE, ESPECIALLY TUNNEAU BOTTOM STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 4Sheets-Sheet 4 lNlfENTOR Theodore Ulrwh A TTORNE Y n w a ..-z1.1m

. aunt-mos] tached drawings.

s PATE v'sincm srauorm .ss'rscmnrr mt. 7

g mum no'rroms'raucrm V More Ulrich, Detroit, mch.,mm to no,

' ward G. Budd Manufacturing Company, Phlla- I delphia, Pa.,.'a corporation of Application August 2, 1m, sci-m No. 349,922 M 20 Claims.

I The invention relates to a vehicle structure and more particularly to a structure of. an automobile body in the bottom region of the tonneau. The invention has, moreover, outstandingly to do with the so-called self-sustaining. body type, that is the typ which, or at least the bottom structure of which, performs at the same time the functions of the chassis.

The invention is chiefly designed for, though not necessarily restricted to, the type of body, the construction of the frontend section of which is disclosed in the simultaneously filed applica. tion, Serial No. 349,704, Vehicle structure, especially front end structure, of applicant and of Deisley and Lindsay and in the applications referred to in said simultaneous application.

It is among the objects of the invention to re-- inforce the body structure especially in the tonneau region without materially increasing the weight of the body and the production costs.

Further objects of the invention have to do with provisions for the reception and the support of wheel suspension means and a fuel tank.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved by using certain parts of the structure which are primarily designed for other purposes, simultaneously as strong transverse or diagonal bracing members between side sills, floor panel and side walls.

One of such features of the invention consists in using a transverse floor panel offset as support for a seat cushion as well as for a transverse brace between the vertical side wall portions of the body.

Another such feature of the invention consists in providing a housing which is adapted to receive and support an airplaneor strut-type shock absorber as well as to act as a diagonal brace between the floor panel or a transverse reinforcement thereof and'an adjoining side wall portion.

A still further feature of the invention consists in the provision of projections formed as one piece with the floor panel and shaped so as to present a bed for a fuel tank and at the same time reinforcements for the'floor panel itself.

Further objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments of the invention when read in connection with the at- In the drawings:

Figure l is a diagrammatic side elevation of a body according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2. is a perspective view of the body, underframe structure, the side panels entering into the structure and adjoining structural parts at the front end being. omitted.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the underside of the rear end of the underframe shown in Figure 2. 1

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective inside view of the tonneau section of the body shown in Fi re 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary transverse section along lines 5-5 of Figures 1 and 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section along lines 66 of Figures 1 and 4.

Figure-7 is a plan view of the underframe structure shown in the region of the sectional view of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary transverse section along line 8-8 of Figure 1.

go Figure 9 is a fragmentary section through a rear end portion of the floor panel taken substantially along line 9-9 in Figure 2 and through a fuel tank secured to the underframe.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of one feature of the invention, this view being taken in the region of line 6-6 of Figure 1.

The body comprises as main elements: side walls IS, a roof is, side doors II, a front wall It, side sill structures it and a floor panel structure 20. The reinforcement of the front end by means of the shroud pan 32, the inclined members 4|, and transverse members 62 and 63, as well as the formation of the main side sill members 29, the adjoining threshold portions, the sill extensions 33 and the remainder of the front end members are shown and described at length in the simultaneously filed application referred to hereinbefore and in the division thereof, Serial No. 430,060, Vehicle body underframe or chassis, of Ulrich and Lindsay, filed February 9, 1942.

The side sill members 29 are extended to the rear end of the body .and have in the tonneau section the open sides closed by the rear wheel housing panels I00, each of which is preferably formed as a one-piece stamping with the adjoining portion of the side panel l5. At the forward end of the wheel housing is arranged the usual rear door posts l0l. Between the posts |0l on both sides of the body is inserted a heel board I02 which serves to support thefront edge of the rear seat cushion (not shown)- This. heel board member I02 has its rearwardly extending ends rigidly fastened to said posts and its lower connected to the main body of the'iioor panel 20.

Intherearofandspacedfromsaidheelboard I02, the floor panel is provided with an offset I00, this oifset having an upwardly and rearwardly inclined front wall I00, a rearwardly adjoining slightly downwardly inclined wall I and side walls I00 which latter merge into marginal portions I01 of the body of the floor panel 20. r

The wall I00 for the rear portion of the rear seat cushion and simultaneously as a transverse reinforcement for of the-offset serves as a support the floor panel itself. The marginal portions I0I spectively. By means of these bridging members I00, the offset I00 forms an uninterrupted transverse brace between the lower portions of the wheel housings I00 and the lower portions of the rear door posts MI. The space formed between the wall I00, the heel board I02 and the main body of the floor panel proper, may serve as a storage compartment.

Rearwardly spaced from the offset I 00, there is provided a second offset I08 in the floor panel -which extends all the way across the panel and -has its ends fastened to the wheel housing walls I00 by means of flanges IIO. This oflset I08 comprises a front wall III, a top wall H2 and a rear wall IIO. Nested into each end of this channel-shaped offset I00 is a, reinforcement II which is likewise channel-shaped in longitudinal absorber IIO. the offset may be of such extent as to facilitate the insertion or removal of the wheel (not shown). The upper wall of the housing I2I is reinforced by an inner plate or stamping I20. This member I20 and the end wall I22 are provided with registering openings through which the end of the shock absorber IIO extends and on both sides of which conventional resilient fastening means I2I for the shock absorber are located.

As visible from Figure 7, the inner wall of each sill member 20, the arm III of the reinforcing member Ill and the sill reinforcement I20 are outwardly oifset in the region of the spring IIO,

thereby allowing to place the spring IIO farther away from the center line of the vehicle with the consequential improvement in transverse stability. Thereduction of the cross-sectional area of the still Ills compensated by the reinforcement due to the members Ill/III, I20 and HI.

The housing I2I acts as a very strong reinforcement of the wheelhousing and as a kind of diagonal brace between the upper part of the wheel housing and the adjoining portions of the transverse sill formed by the offset I00. This reinforcement is the more important as it is located in the region'of the vertical reinforcements I20 of the body side walls and the transverse reinforcements I28, I00, III, which are arranged in back of the rear seat back cushion (not shown). The members I20 have their lower ends fastened to the front wall III of the offset I00 and the vertical section and of angle form in a transverse section as shown in Figure 6. The bottom and side walls of this channel member I It fit against and are fastened such as by welding to the top and side walls II2, III, IIO of the offset I00 and the downwardly extending arm iii of this member overlaps and is fastened to the inner wall of the sill member 28.

The wall I I2 and the upper wall of the member IIO are provided with registering openings which serve for the passage of an airplane-type shock absorber IIO. Flanges H1, H8 around these openings serve as reinforcements and the flanges IIO serve besides for theproper location of the upper ends of coil springs II8, the lower ends of which rest against a wheel supporting member such as an axle (not shown). Each member Ill with its arm II 5 ties the upper spring support right into the adjoining portion of the sill member 28 which in this region is additionally reinforced by a channel-shaped member I20.

Above each opening in the top wall II2 of the oifset I08 is fastened a housing I 2i which is about half-circular in horizontal section and the diameter of which gradually decreases from its lower end upwardly. The upper end of the housing I M is closed by a wall I22 and the free edges of the housing are provided with flanges I20 and I20 by which it is fastened such as by welding to the top wall H2 and to an offset portion I25 of the other ends to the vertical reinforcements I20 whereas the member III is fastened tothe same members I20, to the central vertical brace I00 and to the outer body paneling II and it below the rear view opening I02. The offset I00, the housings HI and the members I20 to IOI form together in effect a very strong transverse bulkhead between the bottom, the side wall and the roof or rear wall structure of the body.

Immediately in rear of the offset I08, the floor panel 20 is provided with a downwardly extending well I00 for the reception of a spare tire. A bracket I00 consisting of the members I05, I00, and I01 is fastened to one of the side sill members 28 in about the same longitudinal region as this well I00. These members, which are reinforced by flanges and offsets, overlap and are welded to each other and certain portions of them overlap and are welded or riveted to the sill member 20, the latter being also in this region reinforced by the before-mentioned member I20. This member I20 extends as a matter of fact to the rear end of the side sill member so as to serve at the same time as a proper foundation for the attachment of the rear bumper and so as to reinforce the rear end of the body which extends freely beyond the rear wheel suspension and as to support the luggage. The member I01 is substantially angle-shaped in horizontal section, the one arm resting against the irmer wall of the sill member 28 and against the member I05, whereas the other arm is fastened by a tongue I00 to an offset I08 of the floor panel. The member I00 overlaps and is fastened to the rear wall IIO of the offset I08. The lower end of the bracket I00 serves for the attachment of a stabilizing rod, the other end of which is attached at the opposite side of the vehicle to the rear axle. This rod and its attachment are not shown because they are well-known in the art. It will have become apparent that the bracket III, which in a coil spring suspension arrangement has to take up all the side thrusts between the body and the rear wheels, is strongly tied into the adjoining body structure and especially into the transverse member its in such a manner that the stresses are distributed over a comparatively wide area of the self-sustaining body construction and stress concentrations are avoided.

Two or more elongated offsets I39 are arranged in transversely spaced relation in the rear of the well I33. The underside of these ofisets I39 is convex so as to make them conform to a fuel tank M6. A somewhat resilient lining I is inserted between those offsets or projections I 39 and the fuel tank Ida which latter is held against the lining by straps I42. The forward ends of these straps are fastened to reinforcements I43 provided with nuts I64 by means of screw bolts (not shown). The rear ends of the straps I42 are fastened in a similar manner to brackets I45 and nuts M6 arranged and fastened in a transverse rail In by bolts I48. The straps do not require any means for the adjustment of their length. The length of the straps between the holes for the fastening bolts is intentionally made slightly shorter than it would appear to be required on account of the distance between the fastening points on the body structure and of the form of the tank. This slight under-measure and variations in the dimensions of any of the members entering into this strapping arrangement are compensated by the resiliency of the oilsets I39 and the adjoining main portion of the floor panel 20. This fastening of the fuel tank is deemed to be exceptionally inexpensive and simple.

The transverse member I4! is angle-shaped in cross-section and fastened by a flange I49 to the underside of the floor panel 20 and by a flange I50 to the front wall I 5| (shown in Figure 9 only) of the tool box which front wall has its upper end likewise fastened to the floor panel 20. The rear wall of the tool box is formed by the transverse body panel I52 which extends between the side walls I5 below the luggage compartment door I53. I54 is a removable cover for the tool box.

The modification shown in Figure 10 differs from the modification hitherto described only in the substitution of the housing I 2| by another type of housing. In this figure is: 29 the one side sill member, the floor panel, I09 the transverse offset with the front wall I I I, the top wall I I2 and the rear wall I I3, connecting flanges I I0 and inner reinforcementarm I I5. The housing I55 on top of the end of the oflset I09 consists of two halves I56, I51 which are welded together by means of overlapping flanges I58. These flanges surround the emplacements for the upper end of the shock absorber at I59 and the opening which is enclosed by this flange portion I59 is closed by a reinforcing plate I60 corresponding substantially to the plate I of the first embodiment. It is obvious that this houslng I55 can be easier manufactured especially if the wheel housing is not provided with an offset I25 as shown in Figures 4 and 6 so that the completed housing has to be of considerably greater depth. Besides, the flanges I 58 and their connection afford an additional reinforcing structure.

The body side sills, cross members and floor panel are, of course, wherever needed provided with bolt spacers, reinforcements and the like, some of them being shown in the drawings. It is, however, deemed not to be necessary to describe those members and their functions specifically.

The invention is liable to many modifications. It'is for instance not necessarily restricted to selfsustaining bodies but many or most of its features may also be used for vehicles having a separate chassis. While the embodiment is primarily designed to be made from sheet metal stampings, the use of other materials alone or in combination with sheet metal is well concelvable. While in most instances electric spot welding for uniting the different parts is contemplated, it is obvious that any other method and means for effecting the connection as long as they are consistent with the material employed can be used. It may also be mentioned that certain features of the invention are not restricted to be used in combination with the specific kind of wheel suspension such as coil springs and airplane-type shock absorbers, but may be applied and advantageously be used in combination with other types of wheel suspensions. Yet, it should be emphasized that these are only a few examples of the possible changes, modifications and other applications of the invention and that others falling into the spirit of the invention are intended to be covered by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vehicle body structure; a floor panel, longitudinal side sill members; body side wall panel members fastened to and extending upwardly from said side sill members; said floor panel being provided with an upwardly offset section extending nearly across the entire width of the structure but ending short of the side margins of the floor panel so that it is completely surrounded by Portions of the floor panel arranged substantially in the plane of the main body thereof; the side margins of said floor panel which extend along the ends of the offset section being fastened to said sill members; bridging members extending between and fastened to the ends of said offset section and to the oppositely located portions of said body side wall members; said offset section and said bridging members forming a transverse reinforcing structure which extends continuously from the body wall member on the one side of the structure to the body wall member on the other side of the structure thereby interbracing those wall members and reinforcing the floor panel.

2. A vehicle floor panel having a plurality of portions projecting beyond one surface thereof and integrally formed as one piece therewith, said projections being spaced from each other, formed corresponding to a portion of the shape of a fuel tank and being adapted to form a bed for the same.

3. In a vehicle floor panel, a plurality of comparatively narrow elongated portions projecting beyond one surface of and integrally formed as one iece with such panel, said projections being spaced from each other, providing for corresponding recesses in the other surface of the panel, extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and being formed corresponding to one side of a fuel tank so as to constitute a bed therefor. reinforcing means shaped similar to and arranged in said recesses being adapted for the attachment of strapping means for holding the fuel tank against said body.

4. In a vehicle. a floor panel provided with means forming a bed adapted for having a fuel tank strapped onto it, means for connecting strapping means for such fuel tank, a closed boxsectional. transverse sill structure connected to said floor panel near but spaced from said bed so that it' reinforces the panel, said connecting means being located in the interior of said sill structure.

5. In a combined body and chassis structure; a floor panel; side sill members fastened to the side margins of said floor panel; side wall panels fastened to said sill members, means for supporting the upper ends of wheel suspension springs against said floor panel near to said side sills; a casing above each spring attaching means; said casings being fastened to the upper side of said floor panel and to the respective adjoining portion of the side wall; said casings forming diagonal bracing means between the floor panel and the side panel in the region of the spring emplacements and besides supports for the upper ends of strut-type shock absorbers.

6. In a combined body and chassis structure; a floor panel, hollow section side sills fastened to the side margins of said floor panel and havin upstanding inner and outer walls; means for accommodating the upper ends of wheel suspension springs against said fiocr panel near to said side sills; the inner walls of said side sills being outwardly oifset in the region of said spring emplacements with respect to the adjacent parts of said inner walls so as to form recesses allowing the arrangement of such springs nearer to the outer margins of the structure, the outer walls of the sills being free from a corresponding offset.

7. In a combined body and chassis structure; a floor panel; side sill members fastened to the side margins of said floor panel; side wall panels fastened to said sill members; a casing fastened to the upper side of said floor panel and to the respective adjoining portion of the side wall; said casing forming a diagonal brace between the floor panel and the side panel in the region of a wheel suspension and upper supports for wheel suspension means.

8. In a combined body and chassis structure; a floor panel; side sill members fastened to the side margins of said floor panel; side wall members fastened to said sill members; a casing arranged near to one of said side sills, fastened to the upper side of said floor panel and to the adjoining portion of the side wall member; said side wall member being inwardly offset in the region of said casing; said casing forming diagonal bracing means between the floor panel and the side panel and a support for wheel suspension means; said offset side wall portion forming an additional reinforcement for said side panel and providing for a shallower casing.

9. In a structure according to claim 8; said offset portion of the side wall panel being inwardly and upwardly inclined in the region where said casing is fastened so as to bring the side wall panel in said region nearer to that point of said casing which is adapted to support wheel suspension means. I

10. In a combined body and chassis structure; a floor panel; side sill members fastened to the side margins of said floor panel; side wall panels fastened to'said sill members; a transverse beam structure extending upwardly from said floor panel and fastened to said side panels; a casing fastened at each side of said floor panel to the upper side of said .transverse beam structure and to the respective adjoining portion of the side wall panels; said transverse structure and said casings forming transverse and diagonal bracing means between the floor panel and the side panels and said casings being adapted to form besides upper supports for strut-type shock absorbers.

11. me structure according to claim 7, said casing being U- or about half-circle-shaped in horizontal cross section, having one end closed by a horizontal wall whereas the other end is open, and being provided with flanges along its free edges, said flanges overlapping and being fastened to the adjacent portions of the side wall panel and of the floor panel.

12. In a structure according to claim 7; said casing being U- or about half-circle-shaped in horizontal cross section and having one end closed by a horizontal wall whereas the other end side margin of said floor panel; a side wall member fastened to said sill member; an effect on said floor panel extending upwardly therefrom and adapted to receive and support the ,upper end of a wheel suspension spring near to said side sill; a casing fastened to the upper side of said floor panel offset and to the respective adjoining portion of the side wall member; said oilset and said casing forming diagonal and transverse bracing means between the floor panel and the side wall member in the region of the spring emplacement and said casing being besides adapted to form a support for and to receive the upper end of a strut-type shock absorber.

14. In a combined body underframe and chassis structure; a longitudinal side sill member; a. floor panel fastened to said side sill member; a bracket structure fastened to said side sill member and, in a region inwardly spaced from said side sill member, to said floor panel; said bracket structure on the one hand and said floor panel and side sill member on the other hand mutually interbracing one another; said bracket extending downwardly from said sill member and said floor panel and being adapted to receive axle guiding means.

15. In a structure according to claim 14; said bracket comprising means which extend downwardly beyond said side sill member and overlap and are fastened to the inner wall and the bottom wall of such member; said bracket comprising furthermore means which extend from said firstnamed means toward the transverse middle plane of the vehicle and are fastened to said floor panel at'a point spaced from said side sill member.

16. In a vehicle body structure; a floor panel; longitudinal side sill members; body side wall members fastened to and extending upwardly from said side sill members; an elongated transversely extending section of said floor panel being upwardly offset so as to project above the portions of the side sill members in the same longitudinal region of the structure, said section extending across about the entire width of the structure, being fastened to .said side wall members and forming a support for the rear margin of a seat cushion; an elongated narrow member extending across and fastened to said floor panel inlongitudinally spaced relation from said oifset section. having its ends fastened to said side wall members and forming a support for the front edge of a seat cushion; the space between said effect see tion and said narrow member forming a storage compartment.

17. In a panel according to claim 2, said portions of the floor panel projecting downwardly so that the upper surface of the panel in the same region is substantially free from projections and is thereby adapted for supporting luggage or the like.

18. A structure according to claim 1, the form of said bridging members in longitudinal vertical section corresponding substantially to the bent form of the adjoining ends of said ofiset section, and the inner ends of said bridging members overlapping the outer ends of said offset and being fastened thereto in the overlapping region.

19. In a metal automobile body, a floor panel extending over a substantial part of the length of the automobile, a transverse channel formed in said floor panel to accommodate wheel suspension means, two wheel housings, one housing on each end of the channel and secured thereto, two reinforcing members inside the body, one member at each side of the vehicle, said members being positioned on the channel and against the adja- 

